Apple's fizzled products

CaptionThe product: Apple III PC

Steven Stengel / oldcomputers.net

1980: After reports of malfunctioning equipment showed that some Apple III chips were improperly installed, Apple urged owners to drop the machines onto a flat surface from a height of several inches to ensure its integrated circuits got seated squarely in their sockets. After a few years, the...

1980: After reports of malfunctioning equipment showed that some Apple III chips were improperly installed, Apple urged owners to drop the machines onto a flat surface from a height of several inches to ensure its integrated circuits got seated squarely in their sockets. After a few years, the... (Steven Stengel / oldcomputers.net)

1983: This computer, touted by Apple as the "Maserati for Your Mind," was the first retail computer to include a mouse. Nonetheless, it bombed, perhaps because of the $10,000 price.

1983: This computer, touted by Apple as the "Maserati for Your Mind," was the first retail computer to include a mouse. Nonetheless, it bombed, perhaps because of the $10,000 price. (Steven Stengel / oldcomputers.net)

1993: Apple's first stab at tablet computing arrived -- and flopped -- a decade before its time. The Newton became a laughingstock when, at $1,000 a pop, the hand-held device couldn't read handwriting -- its most hyped feature.

1993: Apple's first stab at tablet computing arrived -- and flopped -- a decade before its time. The Newton became a laughingstock when, at $1,000 a pop, the hand-held device couldn't read handwriting -- its most hyped feature. (Associated Press)

1996: This long-forgotten game console was too slow and too expensive ($600) for consumers, and had too few games available for it. In 2006, PC World judged it one of the "25 Worst Tech Products of All Time."

1996: This long-forgotten game console was too slow and too expensive ($600) for consumers, and had too few games available for it. In 2006, PC World judged it one of the "25 Worst Tech Products of All Time." (Associated Press)

2000: This visually stunning 8-inch machine, packaged in a translucent white case, looked more like a sculpture than a personal computer, but suffered from a rash of problems. The machine turned itself on and off when touched at the top, which often happened by accident. Connecting cables...

2000: This visually stunning 8-inch machine, packaged in a translucent white case, looked more like a sculpture than a personal computer, but suffered from a rash of problems. The machine turned itself on and off when touched at the top, which often happened by accident. Connecting cables... (Apple.com)